A FINANCIAL controller-turned-endurance swimmer will dive into Europe’s biggest open water challenge, with help from a former Team GB athlete.

On July 12, Lucy Carson, of Taw Hill, will wade into the icy waters off Bournemouth Pier for a 1.4-mile charity swim to Boscombe, with all proceeds going to the British Heart Foundation.

The 31-year-old will be spurred on by her mentor, husband and former dual athlete Paul Carson, who has assisted her throughout a six-month training programme.

Paul travelled all over the world as part of Team GB and with his swimming and cycling prowess has been militant in ensuring the mother-of-one sticks to her training regime.

“We went on holiday to Florida recently and he kept telling me not to let my training slip and not to have an ice-cream and to just get in the pool,” she said.

“It’s definitely tough love from him because he knows how much it means to me.”

Lucy was inspired to jump into the challenge when her beloved father Richard Clewlow died last year aged 66 from an abdominal aortic aneurysm, a swelling of one of the heart’s main blood vessels.

She said: “I would speak to my dad every day and he became ill very suddenly. He was fit and healthy and this made me realise that anyone can be affected by heart conditions, that’s why charities like these are so important to me. They fund research into the condition which will hopefully help other families not to be in this situation.

“I wanted to do something to channel my grief and do something for dad. There’s no way I would ever jump out of a plane, I just wouldn’t have the nerve and I thought this was something I can do.”

The mile-long swim will cap a remarkable year for TE Connectivity employee Lucy, who began trainingwhose swimming experience only extended to breaststroke before training began in January.

“I’m not a sporty person at all so this was a struggle. In January this year I could only swim breaststroke for about 10 lengths. I had knee surgery which meant I had to relearn everything, in that time I have learnt to swim free style and the breathing technique required.”

Aided by daily swimming sessions at the South Marston Mercure Hotel, Lucy has astounded herself with the progress she has made.

“Now my personal best is 94 lengths and I’m averaging 70 most days so I feel pretty confident.”

She will be supported by friends and family including four-year-old son Coby.

And Lucy now believes her biggest obstacle will be her fear of deep water when she pulls on her wetsuit to undertake the challenge. She said: “I’ve done a couple of practice runs in the sea now and I was absolutely terrified so I will have to conquer my fear in order to be able to do this.

“I don’t care if it takes me six hours to do it and I’m the only person left out there, I’m going to do it and think of my dad the whole through. This is for him.”

To donate to Lucy visit www.justgiving.co.uk/lucycarson31